UK softball unveils John Cropp Stadium
April 14, 2013
By Tyler Spanyer | @KernelSpanyer
After the long winter’s wait, UK Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart and softball head coach Rachel Lawson unveiled the John Cropp Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
“I was completely blindsided by the naming,” said John Cropp, who has spent the past 20 years at UK as an athletic administrator. “You don’t name stadiums after assistant coaches and administrators, so this really shocks me.”
Cropp is credited with helping not only start the softball program at UK, but helping lead it to its current success. Cropp is the only original member of the program still working for UK.
“There are many people who transcend institutions and make an impact on many lives,” Barnhart said during a speech. “And John has been that person here at the University of Kentucky.”
The new stadium, which won’t be 100 percent completed until July, can hold 1,500 fans with the option for standing room only if needed.
UK will host the 2013 SEC Tournament in John Cropp Stadium from May 8 to 11. This will be UK’s first time hosting the SEC Softball Tournament in program history.
“I have yet to see better facilities in the entire country,” Lawson said during the ceremony. “A couple of years ago I was interviewing for jobs and Mitch told me that he would get me a stadium. I didn’t believe him, but now look at us.”